Grant brings international music to county

Published: Saturday, June 15, 2013 5:30 a.m. CDT

The College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University received a $2,500 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation to help bring the Arts Midwest World Fest to DeKalb County during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years.

Working with the superintendents and other representatives of school districts in DeKalb, Sycamore and Sandwich, college dean Rich Holly said he is excited about Arts Midwest World Fest coming to the county.

“Arts Midwest World Fest will bring four internationally touring music acts to DeKalb County, one per semester, over the next two school years,” he said in a news release. “Each of the four partners – NIU, DeKalb schools, Sycamore schools and Sandwich schools – will have each group in residence for one full day, teaching the students about the music of the country from which they hail.”

Holly noted that this is a unique opportunity not only due to the great exposure the students will have to these artists and their music, but also to learn about the customs and culture of other lands.

In addition to spending several days working with school children and NIU students, each group will perform a public concert at the end of their one-week residency.

The first group to appear as part of Arts Midwest World Fest will be Bandolino, from Israel, in September. In January, La Vent du Nord, from Quebec, will be in residence. The groups for the following school year will be from China and Brazil.

As more specific details become known about each group’s appearance and their public concert, promotional notices and materials will be sent to area news outlets.